Monday, July 30, 2007

Chief Justice Roberts Suffers Seizure in Maine

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts suffered what is being described by doctors as a "benign idiopathic seizure" after falling Monday at his summer home in Maine.

He is staying in Penobscot Bay Medical Center overnight for observation, court officials told FOX News.

Roberts suffered was at his home [sic] in Port Clyde on Hupper Island when he fell around 2 p.m. ET. The fall caused minor scrapes, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said.

Roberts, 52, was transported by boat and then ambulance from his summer home, a journey of some 40 miles. At Penn Bay Medical Center, he underwent a "thorough neurological evaluation, which revealed no cause for concern," Arberg said in a statement.

Roberts had a similar episode in 1993, she said.

Roberts was said to be "alert" upon arrival at the hospital, and endured several hours of exams. He is said to have "fully recovered."


From what I can see, benign idiopathic seizure may be associated with epilepsy. According to WebMD.com:
In idiopathic generalized epilepsy, there is often, but not always, a family history of epilepsy. Idiopathic generalized epilepsy tends to appear during childhood or adolescence, although it may not be diagnosed until adulthood. In this type of epilepsy, no nervous system (brain or spinal cord) abnormalities other than the seizures have been identified as of yet. The brain is structurally normal on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.


While Chief Justice Roberts may be the youngest Court member, he is no child or adolescent.

So long as Chief Justice Robert's brain functions remain intact there is no likely repercussion on the Court. Chief Justice Roberts will likely be able to resume his Chief Judge duties when the Supreme Court's session resumes on September 24, 2007.

My thoughts and prayers are with Chief Justice Roberts and his family and I wish him a speedy recovery.

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